Utility tree

ABSTRACT

A unit for storing various household cleaning implements; the unit consisting of a shallow square pan that supports on opposite sides a pair of upwardly converging legs which at their top have a bracket for supporting a depending wet or dry mop over the center of the pan; the corners of the pan having integral vertical sleeves for storing a broom, dust mop, waxer and sponge mop; each of the inclined legs additionally having hooks along an intermediate post thereof for storing a dust pan and commode brush, while the pan is adaptable to receive a removable tray or pan which can be easily emptied of dripping water from a wet mop.

United States Patent [1 Stacy, Sr.

[ Dec. 25, 1973 UTILITY TREE [76] Inventor: Hershel Stacy, Sr., Dice, Ky. 41736 [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 237,783

[52] US. Cl. 211/65, 248/111 [51] A47b 81/02 [58] Field of Search 15/257 R; 211/66, 211/62, 1, 65; 248/128, 111; 280/793, 79.2, 79.1, 47.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,278,650 4/1942 Drinkwater 211/65 2,515,890 7/1950 Ollman 15/257 R X 1,078,804 1l/l9l3 Royse 211/62 UX 2,424,644 7/1947 Barrett 211/1 UX 1,785,064 12/1930 Zeindlen... 280/79.l X 2,584,219 2/1952 Murrell 15/257 R X 2,596,749 5/1952 Webber 15/257 R X 2,904,188 9/1959 Richardson... 211/65 3,007,618 ll/l961 Davis 211/65 X 2,941,769 6/1960 Alpard 248/11 1 2,661,920 12/1953 Gochenour 211/65 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 5,625 3/1906 Great Britain 15/257 R 3,647 2/ 1906 Great Britain 21 l/62 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Abraham Frankeu [5 7] ABSTRACT A unit for storing various household cleaning implements; the unit consisting of a shallow square pan that supports on opposite sides a pair of upwardly converging legs which at their top have a bracket for supporting a depending wet or dry mop over the center of the pan; the comers of the pan having integral vertical sleeves for storing a broom, dust mop, waxer and sponge mop; each of the inclined legs additionally having hooks along an intermediate post thereof for storing a dust pan and commode brush, while the pan is adaptable to receive a removable tray or pan which can be easily emptied of dripping water from a wet mop.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UTILITY TREE This invention relates generally to household cleaning implement storage stations or centers.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a utility tree where all the major household cleaning implements can be conveniently stored in an easily accessible manner for instant use.

Another object is to provide a utility tree where a dripping wet mop can be stored without danger of the water dripping therefrom doing any damage, and wherein a wet commode brush after being used can also be free to drip harmlessly, thus eliminating the undesirable chore of wringing out a mop or drying the brush before putting them away. This eliminates the common practice of placing a wet mop into a bath tub, laundry tub, or hanging over a porch banister for drying out before storing away.

Another object is to provide a utility tree where all the implements can be stored together, thus eliminating hunting in different places for various cleaning devices.

Other objects are to provide a utility tree which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily apparent upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

HO. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the wet mop supporting bracket assembly.

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a utility tree according to the present invention wherein there is a shallow square base pan 11 for placement upon a floor, and which is 14% inches wide, 14% inches long and having upstanding side walls 12 that are 2 inches high at their centers and which taper upward towards their corners 13 to a height of4 inches. A triangular flange or bracket 14 is secured in each corner at an elevation of l%% inches above the bottom wall, the bracket securing a vertical 4 inch high sleeve 15 within each corner and which are used to receive the lower handle ends of a broom l6, dust mop l7, waxer l8 and sponge mop 19. Upon the flanges 14, a removable drip pan of circular shape can be supported.

A pair of upwardly converging legs 21 are secured at their lower ends by screws or rivets 22 to the center of opposite side walls 12, the upper ends of the legs holding a bracket unit 23 forsupporting a floor mop 24 in a depending position overthe center of the pan 20 so that dripping water from the mop, when wet, can be collected in the pan 20.

The bracket unit 23 includes formed bracket 25 that supports an elliptic shaped rubber cleat 26 pivotable about a pin 27 attached to the bracket 25 so that a space 28 formed between a side wall 29 of the bracket 25 and a toothed face 30 of the cleat can be changed in width. Thus the mop handle 31 can be placed in the space 28, and the cleat swung down so to lock against the handle and thus hold the mop hanging or suspended therefrom. A spring 32 biases the cleat.

A book 33 formed along one leg 21 serves to hold a dripping commode brush 34 over the drip pan 20 while another hook 35 on the other leg holds a dust pan 36. The hook 33 can be used to hold a wet rag used to wipe a wet floor tracked by wet feet of people or household pets.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim as follows:

1. In a utility tree, the combination of a square, shallow base pan having a pair of upwardly converging legs secured to opposite sides thereof, the upper ends of said legs being secured to a bracket unit for supporting a dripping mop over a center of said pan, wherein said base pan at each corner has a vertical sleeve secured therein by'a triangular flange in elevated position over a bottom wall of said base pan, said sleeves supporting a broom, a dust mop, waxer and sponge mop, and said flanges supporting a circular drip pan centrally above said base pan to catch water from said mop, wherein said bracket unit includes a formed bracket member to which an elliptical cleat is supported pivotally free on a pin, said cleat being biased by a spring to pivot toward a side wall of said bracket to close a space therebetween in which a handle of said mop is placed for being grasped by said cleat.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein hooks along said legs serve to hold a dripping commode brush. 

1. In a utility tree, the combination of a square, shallow base pan having a pair of upwardly converging legs secured to opposite sides thereof, the upper ends of said legs being secured to a bracket unit for supporting a dripping mop over a center of said pan, wherein said base pan at each corner has a vertical sleeve secured therein by a triangular flange in elevated position over a bottom wall of said base pan, said sleeves supporting a broom, a dust mop, waxer and sponge mop, and said flanges supporting a circular drip pan centrally above said base pan to catch water from said mop, wherein said bracket unit includes a formed bracket member to which an elliptical cleat is supported pivotally free on a pin, said cleat being biased by a spring to pivot toward a side wall of said bracket to close a space therebetween in which a handle of said mop is placed for being grasped by said cleat.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein hooks along said legs serve to hold a dripping commode brush. 